Step by Step instruction on reformatting?

Question

I have Pentium 3 Dell Desktop with windows 2000 Pro.
I want to reformat hard drive so I can reload XP Home at a later date I'm using a fdisk floppy to reformat it

Answer 1

You don't need to use a floppy. FDisk is a DOS app and will not work with XP. Most computers since the Pentium I will boot directly to CD, as long as you go into the BIOS (hit F10 when the Dell screen comes up) and change the boot order to [FLOPPY > CDROM > HARD DRIVE]. Then you can boot to the XP Setup CD just as if it was a floppy.

XP Setup will give you the option to repartition and format your drives once it is running. Make sure you use NTFS to format and not FAT32. NTFS is more secure and more efficient.

Good luck!

[EDIT:: You don't have to go through all that other crap that the other people are saying.. Like I said, the partitioning and formatting are done as part of the XP Setup process. Just set up your BIOS like I said, and boot to the XP CD]

Answer 2

All you do is type A: and hit enter it should give you A:\


Type in Format C:\ then hit enter it will ask you if you are sure if you want to do this as this will delete ALL files. Type in Y then hit enter again.


This will begin the re-format process. You will see the percentage sign of how much is being done. When it reaches 100% then it will ask you for a label for this drive I type in Hard Drive then hit enter.


When this is done re-boot your system after you put in the floppy or use the CD-Rom Recovery disk. If you use the floppy disk you will also need to put in the Windows 98 Disk into your CD-Rom.


After your system re-boots from A: You should see a CD driver or it will will ask you if you want to re-boot using CD Rom Support. If given the option to re-boot with CD-Rom Support select that one.

Then you should have a prompt A:\ next you type in the letter of your CD Rom. Then hit enter the CD-Rom drive could be D:\ E:\ or even M:\ (Whichever one it is it will not say Bad command or file name.)


Once you have the proper drive letter, Then type in setup.exe then hit enter again. This should begin your windows intallation. When it is done installing your windows it will run Windows for the firt time. Check your system Settings when it is done to make sure your modem soundcard etc are all working

Answer 3

go to setup. have your computer boot to a: insert your disk . when the command prompt appears type in fdisk and press enter. proceed to delete all partitions and then create a primary partition. after this type in format c: and proceed to format the hard drive

Answer 4

Use partition logic. Also if you have not yet bought XP try UBUNTU first. It's a free , reliable and up to date operating system. Plus all of the programs are FREE!!!

Answer 5

initiate laptop and click F2 or delete on your keyboard (it varies from laptop to laptop) Bios could arise on the demonstrate screen opt for boot each so often progressed. what you're searching for is the boot order, you're able to see some thing like 1st boot gadget 2d boot gadget etc on 1st boot gadget replace it to cd whether it rather is on hdd keep and go out many times f10 or click on it insert os cd and boot while laptop starts off you're able to get "hit any key besides from cd" flow forward drivers will load then it is going to ask in case you prefer to format click to format the force you prefer to place in to while it has finished formatting only stick to the on demonstrate screen training